Our Vanilla Bundt Cake is a timeless dessert, perfect for any occasion. This classic powdered sugar-dusted bundt cake boasts a moist, fluffy texture with a subtle vanilla flavor.
Why You'll Love This Vanilla Bundt Cake Recipe
Vanilla Bundt Cake is a classic dessert that's perfect for any occasion. This moist and flavorful cake is made with simple ingredients and is easy to prepare. The cake is baked in a bundt pan, which gives it a unique and elegant shape.
- Effortless Elegance: A Bundt cake always looks impressive with its beautiful shape, yet the recipe is often incredibly simple to mix and bake, making you look like a pro with minimal effort.
- Perfectly Moist Texture: Bundt cakes frequently yield a wonderfully tender and moist crumb, ensuring every slice is a delightful experience, especially with that comforting vanilla flavor.
- Easily Customized: A classic vanilla base is ideal for personalizing with glazes, fresh fruit, or a dusting of powdered sugar, allowing you to easily adapt it for any occasion or preference.
Ingredients Overview
Made from everyday simple pantry ingredients, this homemade vanilla bundt cake is moist, tender, and the perfect foil for any special dessert or holiday treat!
Additionally, this basic standby cake batter recipe transforms into a multitude of flavors simply by substituting the vanilla extract with lemon, orange, rum, or any flavor of extract!
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
How To Make Our Vanilla Bundt Cake
This simple 'from scratch' vanilla bundt cake whips up in almost the same time as making it from a cake mix! Be sure to grease and then dust the bundt pan with flour to ensure a super easy release after cooling for 5 to 8 minutes max.
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350℉ degrees. Grease a 9-inch bundt cake pan with cooking spray and dust with flour to coat the inside.
Step 2: Mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder, vanilla extract, and salt together in a large bowl. Add eggs, milk, and vegetable oil and mix with an electric mixer on low speed until smooth.
Step 3: Pour batter into the prepared bundt pan, tapping the pan on the counter to fill and knock out any air pockets.
Step 4: Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, about 30 to 35 minutes. Some bundt cake pans are taller than wider, so if the toothpick does not come out clean, check again in 5 minute intervals.
Step 5: Cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes, then invert cake carefully onto a cooling rack. Let cool completely before transferring to a cake plate or dusting with powdered sugar.
Serving Suggestions
Serve the cake as is, or with a scoop of ice cream or whipped cream and fresh berries. Pair with a cup of hot coffee or tea. Or, frost or frost with our Whipped Chocolate Ganache, melted Baileys Irish cream ganache, or warm homemade caramel sauce on top.
With its classic flavor and beautiful presentation, this vanilla bundt cake is a timeless dessert that will be enjoyed by everyone.
Substitutions and Variations
Here are a few delicious variations or substitutions when making this recipe.
- Frosting Options: Frost the cake with your favorite buttercream or cream cheese frosting.
- Simple Garnish: Drizzle the cake with a simple glaze made with powdered sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla extract.
- Flavor Additions: Add a teaspoon of citrus zest or a sprinkle of cinnamon or apple pie spice for a flavor twist.
Tips for Success
Here are a few tips for making this recipe:
- Flavor Boost: Add ½ teaspoon of almond extract or lemon extract to the batter for a new flavor, or a teaspoon of cinnamon or nutmeg for a spiced version.
- Prepare Your Pan: Grease and flour your Bundt pan thoroughly, ensuring every crevice is coated. This is crucial for easy release and a perfect shape.
- Don't Overfill: Fill the Bundt pan no more than two-thirds full to prevent overflow during baking and ensure even cooking.
- Easy Release: After baking, allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes, then use a spatula to gently loosen the edges before inverting it onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- Finishing Touch: Drizzle your cooled cake with a simple vanilla glaze, chocolate ganache, or a dusting of powdered sugar for an elegant presentation.
Storage Options
Some recommended storage options for this recipe are:
- Countertop: Store the unfrosted or lightly glazed Bundt cake at room temperature, tightly covered with plastic wrap or in an airtight cake carrier, for 2-3 days.
- Refrigeration: If your cake has a cream cheese frosting or you need to store it longer, refrigerate it in an airtight container. It will stay fresh for up to a week.
- Freezing: For longer storage, wrap individual slices or the whole unfrosted cake tightly in plastic wrap, then in aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature or in the refrigerator before serving.
Related Recipes
- Red Velvet Bundt Cake
- Del Frisco's Butter Cake
- Beigli Walnut Rolls
- Homemade Vanilla Sugar (and how to use a vanilla bean)
Frequently Asked Questions
Thoroughly grease and flour every crevice of your Bundt pan. You can also use a baking spray specifically designed for baking, which contains flour.
A wooden skewer or toothpick inserted into the center of the cake (avoiding the Bundt hole) should come out clean when the cake is fully baked.
This can happen due to overmixing the batter, opening the oven door too early, or incorrect oven temperature. Also, ensure your oven is accurately calibrated.
Dessert Recipes
Get The Recipe!
Vanilla Bundt Cake
Equipment
- Large Bundt Pan
Ingredients
- 2 ⅔ cups all-purpose flour or more as needed
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 eggs
- ¾ cup milk
- ¾ cup vegetable oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350℉ degrees. Grease a 9-inch bundt cake pan with cooking spray and dust with flour to coat the inside.
- Mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder, vanilla extract, and salt together in a large bowl.2 ⅔ cups all-purpose flour, 1 cup white sugar, 1 tablespoon baking powder, 1 tablespoon vanilla extract, ½ teaspoon salt
- Add eggs, milk, and vegetable oil and mix with an electric mixer on low speed until smooth.3 eggs, ¾ cup milk, ¾ cup vegetable oil
- Pour batter into the prepared bundt pan, tapping the pan on the counter to fill and knock out any air pockets.
- Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, about 30 to 35 minutes. NOTE: Some bundt cake pans and ovens vary, so if the toothpick does not come out clean, check again in 5 minute intervals.
- Cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes, then invert cake carefully onto a cooling rack. Let cool completely before transferring to a cake plate or dusting with powdered sugar.
Notes
- Flavor Boost: Add ½ teaspoon of almond extract or lemon extract to the batter for a new flavor, or a teaspoon of cinnamon or nutmeg for a spiced version.
- Prepare Your Pan: Grease and flour your Bundt pan thoroughly, ensuring every crevice is coated. This is crucial for easy release and a perfect shape.
- Don't Overfill: Fill the Bundt pan no more than two-thirds full to prevent overflow during baking and ensure even cooking.
- Easy Release: After baking, allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes, then use a spatula to gently loosen the edges before inverting it onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- Finishing Touch: Drizzle your cooled cake with a simple vanilla glaze, chocolate ganache, or a dusting of powdered sugar for an elegant presentation.
Kelly Bloom says
I love the simplicity of this doctored up cake mix recipe! Not everyone want to make, or feels confident making a cake totally from scratch!